The visit had been heralded as a possible sign of a thaw in ties between Israel and UNESCO, after Jerusalem cut off contact with the UN body following its recognition of a Palestinian state in 2011.

A government official said the cancellation was due to Palestinian “politicization” of the UN mission contrary to the agreed parameters of the visit.

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UNESCO members voted in favor of these five previously pending resolutions on Friday, condemning Israel over a variety of issues including the preservation of archaeological sites in the Old City, the construction of a visitors’ center, plans to build an elevator by the Western Wall, accusations of archeological excavations said to be damaging Muslim sites atop the Temple Mount, the alleged deterioration of educational and cultural institutions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and plans to invest in sites its considers national heritage sites, like the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

The UN body’s Arab and Islamic bloc led the drive for the adoption of the resolutions, backed by Russia and France.